Chapter 20

The homeroom teacher of Class 2, Grade 2, Wang Yarong, was grading the math exam that had just been held that morning. She had intentionally designed the test to go slightly beyond the curriculum, touching not only on Grade 1 content but also on some relatively basic topics from Grade 2. She wanted to see how many students had taken her pre-holiday advice seriously and started reviewing ahead.

Whether the students had failed to preview or simply didn’t understand the unfamiliar material, the exams were full of mistakes—sheet after sheet marked with glaring red X’s that were particularly infuriating. With only a few papers left to grade, Wang Yarong’s face turned grim. Out of all the papers she had marked, only three students had scored over 70, and fewer than ten had passed. Chen Kai, one of the underachievers, had only managed to score eight points. How he had ever gotten into high school was a mystery.

She took a gulp of water, picked up another paper, and her expression softened slightly. At the very least, the paper was neat and clean, which made it a pleasure to read. The fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions at the beginning showed no signs of erasure, suggesting a confident approach. Flipping through the rest of the paper, the problem-solving sections were logical and complete, and even the twenty-point bonus question at the end had been done correctly. Wang Yarong finally broke into a rare smile and decisively marked the paper with a score of 120.

“Ms. Wang! Ms. Wang! Qian Jianing in your class beat someone up—he’s bleeding!” A girl from the next class rushed in, panting heavily. Maybe she had run too quickly, as she leaned against the doorframe and gasped for air. Even though she looked exhausted, there was a trace of schadenfreude on her face.

Wang Yarong’s smile vanished, her brow furrowing again. “What’s going on with Qian Jianing? I was just about to praise her, and now she’s fighting again.” She stood up and hurried out, spotting a cluster of students gathered at the front of the classroom from a distance.

Having just threatened Chen Kai, Qian Jianing turned to leave. The onlookers, seeing her expression dark and stormy, instinctively stepped back, forming a path for her.

Wang Yarong’s office was right next to the classroom. As she ran over and saw Qian Jianing about to leave, she quickly called out, “Qian Jianing, who did you beat up? Why do you constantly worry me like this?”

Qian Jianing stopped in her tracks, helpless. Wang Yarong ran over and immediately saw Chen Kai curled up against the wall. His right cheek was swollen beyond recognition, there was blood at the corner of his mouth, and a tooth lay on the floor.

“What happened here?” Wang Yarong was momentarily stunned. Qian Jianing had beaten up Chen Kai? Weren’t the two of them dating?

She looked at Qian Jianing’s slender limbs and frail frame—how could someone so small and weak manage to beat the muscular Chen Kai to this state? What kind of joke was this?

Wang Yarong frowned and turned to glare at the girl who had followed in to gossip. “You! How dare you slander one of my students? What’s your name? What class are you from? Do you have something against our class? I’m going to report you to your homeroom teacher!”

The girl’s smug smile instantly froze, and she looked like she was about to cry. “It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes!”

Li Xue, worried that the teacher might punish Qian Jianing, quickly stepped forward. “Ms. Wang, it’s not her fault. Chen Kai wouldn’t let her leave and tried to hit her. She just couldn’t take it anymore and hit him back.”

Now Wang Yarong was truly confused. She glanced once more at the nearly unconscious Chen Kai, then at Qian Jianing, feeling as though her brain had turned to mush.

“What? Qian Jianing really did that to Chen Kai?” Unable to help herself, she reached out and pinched Qian Jianing’s arm—there wasn’t any noticeable muscle. Where did she get such strength?

Qian Jianing looked extremely awkward. “I’m sorry, Ms. Wang. I just couldn’t hold back.”

Ordinarily, fighting in school was considered a serious offense. In the past, students who got into fights were either punished or expelled—many had been. After cooling down, Qian Jianing regretted her actions. She should have waited until they were outside school grounds. If she’d hit him then, no one could interfere.

But seeing how uneasy Qian Jianing looked, Wang Yarong wasn’t angry—in fact, she was a little pleased. Qian Jianing had entered high school with outstanding grades and had always performed well academically. If it weren’t for Chen Kai’s persistent pursuit, which had disrupted her focus, she wouldn’t have fallen so far behind. Wang Yarong figured the two must have broken up, otherwise there’s no way Qian Jianing could have improved so quickly. Chen Kai was probably trying to patch things up—which led to the altercation. She had to make sure Chen Kai abandoned that idea; she couldn’t let him ruin such a promising student.

Noticing Qian Jianing’s anxious expression, Wang Yarong gently patted her on the shoulder. “Qian Jianing, I understand. It’s not your fault.” Then turning coldly toward Chen Kai, she said, “Chen Kai, let me give you some advice—if you’re not interested in studying, then drop out now. Don’t disturb others in school. This is a place for learning, not your personal karaoke bar or roller rink.”

Chen Kai kept his head down, covering his face and not daring to speak. He was terrified that if he said anything, he might really get expelled. His family wasn’t well off—he had an older sister and a younger sister, as well as both grandparents at home. The whole family survived on his father’s single income. His top-performing sister had dropped out to support him, and his younger sister would also head to a factory after junior high. He was the family’s only hope. If he got expelled, his dad might literally beat him to death. His father was counting on him to get into college, become an official, and bring honor to the family.

Seeing that Chen Kai remained silent, Wang Yarong gave him a cold huff and stopped paying him any attention. After all, it was Qian Jianing who had physically hit him, and he ended up looking pretty miserable. If this issue escalated, it wouldn’t bode well for her. She gently patted Qian Jianing’s shoulder with a kindly smile. “Don’t worry, I’m on your side.”

The students who had gathered to watch were left dumbfounded by this unexpected scene. This wasn’t how Ms. Wang usually operated. Before the summer break, she looked at Qian Jianing with disdain, practically wishing she’d transfer out. Now, after just one holiday, she was treating her like a beloved daughter? Her change of heart was too dramatic.

Wang Yarong scanned the crowd with a stern face. “Alright, enough gawking. You’re all so quick to watch drama but I bet you don’t study nearly as hard. Once our back-to-school exams are graded, I’ll settle the score with your results.”

At that, the crowd scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing faster than lightning. In no time, only Li Xue, Qian Jianing, and Chen Kai were left at the classroom door. Wang Yarong smiled at Qian Jianing. “I used to think you were a lost cause. Good thing you came to your senses. Life is long, and at each stage of life, we should be doing what people at that age should do. Right now, your only job is to study hard—nothing else matters.”

Qian Jianing obediently admitted her mistake and promised earnestly, “Ms. Wang, I know I made a mistake before. That’s why I broke it off with Chen Kai the very first day of summer vacation. But I didn’t expect he’d come cling to me again when school started.”

Wang Yarong looked at her warmly. “To know one’s mistake and correct it is a virtue. I can see your commitment to change. You did very well on this test—I’m pleased. It’s getting late. Go home and get some rest. You still have two more subjects this afternoon.”

Qian Jianing nodded and left with Li Xue. Wang Yarong turned to look at the huddling Chen Kai, her gentle look now swapped with one of irritation. “I’ll let it go this time. But next time, cause trouble again and I’ll have your father come take you home. Now get up—stop pretending to be dead. Want me to carry you home?”

Chen Kai propped himself up with his arms, feeling every muscle in his body ache—especially his face. He didn’t even know where to press to ease the pain. Watching Wang Yarong turn and walk away without a glance back, he decided to head straight back to the classroom. Looking like this, he was sure his dad would beat him again if he went home. Better to nap in class instead—he couldn’t eat with his face so swollen anyway.

Limping into the classroom, Chen Kai lay across his desk and stared at the ceiling. Qian Jianing not only turned her back on him but beat him to a pulp? He poked at his puffy cheek, unable to fathom where Qian Jianing had picked up such skills. When they were dating, she never mentioned anything like this. Did she hide it on purpose?

Thinking back to her delicate, dainty demeanor when they were together, and comparing it to the fierce, scary version today, Chen Kai thought he saw the truth. “She played the innocent just to date me, and now that we’ve broken up, her true colors show. With that temper, who’d dare marry her?”

He cursed under his breath despite the pain it caused his face. Grabbing a mirror from his bag, he recoiled at the sight of his bruised, swollen face—it looked like a pig’s head. His good looks had been his one advantage, and now Qian Jianing had ruined him!

“You little wretch, just you wait. One day, when I make it big, I’ll get my revenge!”

****

As Li Xue and Qian Jianing walked out of the school gate, Li Xue looked around nervously to make sure no one was nearby before patting her chest in relief. “That scared me to death. I thought Ms. Wang would scold you! But she actually stood up for you. I guess you really did do well on that test.”

Qian Jianing smiled. “Ms. Wang always sizes people up by their grades. If you’re doing well, she’ll praise and pamper you. If your grades drop, she’ll treat you like a stepchild.”

Li Xue clung to Qian Jianing’s arm. “Well, at least you came to your senses. But seriously, what did you do during the summer? Not only can you make amazing snacks, but you know kung fu too? That move on Chen Kai—was that kung fu? Where’d you learn it?”

Qian Jianing showed her adorable dimples. “In a dream.”

“Come on, be serious!” Li Xue stomped her foot. “I really want to learn too.”

“For real—it was in a dream.” Qian Jianing laughed and stroked Li Xue’s soft, fluffy hair. “Enough with the nonsense. I need to go home and cook. I’ll bring jujube cake for you this afternoon.”

Business had been booming for Li Wanzhen lately, especially during meal times when customers lined up for liangpi and small side dishes. She no longer had time to go home to cook lunch, staying out most of the day. Since Qian Jianing was the best cook in the family, she took the initiative to handle their daily meals. The ingredients were already on hand, and the auto-washing basin left everything sparkling clean in minutes.

She made mung bean and lily porridge, a dish of pearl fish balls, garlic pork slices, stir-fried greens, and an oil-braised prawn dish with fresh jumbo shrimp pulled from the tank. She also took out the red date buns steamed the previous day. Thanks to the kitchen’s fresh-keeping feature, although it had been a night, the buns were still hot and fluffy, exuding their sweet, date-like aroma.

“Sis, I’m home!” Qian Jiafeng bounced in. “My teacher praised me today for being well-prepared—it’s all thanks to your tutoring!”

Qian Jianing ruffled his hair. “Is Dad back yet? Go call him for lunch—it’s cooler in the shop.”

Qian Jiafeng nodded and opened the door, only to be met with a wave of heat. His sweat, which had just dried, poured out again. He turned back, pleading, “Sis, can I eat lunch here? It’s way too hot inside the house.”

Qian Jianing laughed at his pitiful expression while setting dishes on the table. “Ask Dad to set up the foldable bed for you.”

Excited by her agreement, Qian Jiafeng bounced in place. “No need. I’ll just push a few chairs together—I’ll bring my own pillow.”

Qian Guosheng soon arrived, having washed his face and changed into a clean undershirt. These days, he could only help out at the shop after work, while most duties were left to the siblings.

He took a sip of porridge—the grains were soft and sweet, with a hint of lotus leaf. “Now that the school year’s started, focus on studying. No need to keep running this shop.”

Qian Jianing smiled firmly. “Dad, I’m an adult now—I have my own plans. Don’t worry.”

Rather than get angry, Qian Guosheng chuckled. “I’m just concerned about your studies.”

Qian Jianing picked up some greens. Her eyes lowered gently. “I promise to take first place in every exam. If I can’t, I’ll stop running the shop.”

Jiafeng had just stuffed a slice of the perfectly marbled, salty garlic pork in his mouth when he heard that and panicked. “Sis! Don’t say things like that! I need your food to grow!”

Qian Jianing burst into laughter. “Grow? Dunno about your height, but you’ve definitely gotten chubbier. You’ve gained over twenty pounds this month. Keep eating like this and you’ll outgrow that chubby kid from West City. Starting tomorrow, you’re going jogging every morning—no jog, no food.”

Jiafeng deflated, but the delicious aroma from the table quickly swayed him. “Will there still be meat if I run?”

Qian Jianing slid some greens into his bowl. “Just eat your vegetables.”

After lunch, Qian Jianing refused her dad’s offer to wash the dishes. Once he left, she placed the dirty dishes and tablecloth into the dishwasher behind the screen. Jiafeng built a makeshift bed with chairs and fell asleep the moment he lay down.

Qian Jianing didn’t rest. Maybe it was all the feedings from the Food Elder—she now felt incredibly energetic. In the past, lunch made her drowsy, but now she could stay awake and alert all day.

Her shop had high foot traffic and required lots of ingredients daily. Vendors at the nearby market all knew her. When she arrived, they’d shout energetically to draw her attention. At first, she’d buy ingredients herself, picking carefully. But as demand grew, she started working with the most honest and freshest vendors, giving them a list a day ahead. Every morning, they’d deliver straight to her door.

She carefully examined every delivery. If any item wasn’t fresh, she would reject it—and blacklist that vendor. All the market sellers knew she was picky, so they only brought their best.

After school, Qian Jianing reviewed the evening orders to check ingredients. When she reached the last list, she paused. It was packed with dishes from Yunnan Province—recipes unheard of in Zibo City, where communications and transport were still developing. That in itself wasn’t strange—perhaps the customer was a Yunnan native. What caught her attention were the detailed flavor descriptions under each item, which, to her expert palate, weren’t authentic—some even wildly off.

She set the list aside, planning to confirm it with the customer later.

“Ding ding ding…” The alarm rang. It was exactly 6:30 PM. She wiped her hands with a white towel and opened the front gate.

All ten parties had arrived. Walking in, they quickly noticed changes from previous evenings. The once open hall had been divided with lush greenery into individual nooks, adding a sense of calm and coolness perfect for the lingering summer heat.

Guests chose their spots and settled in. As Qian Jianing moved from table to table confirming orders, she reached a table in the corner where she noticed all six diners had slightly red, puffy eyes.

“Hello.” Qian Jianing gave a polite smile. “May I ask which customer placed this order? I need to verify the menu.”

“My name is Liu Shengrui, I placed the order,” said a man in his forties. As Qian Jianing flipped through the thick menu filled with various flavor annotations, Liu Shengrui looked slightly nervous. “I’m not sure if you’ll be able to meet all my requests?”

So this was the customer with the strange requests. Qian Jianing placed the menu on the table and looked at him, puzzled. “But if I prepare the dishes according to your requested flavors, the taste might turn out rather average. It wouldn’t be considered authentic.”

A faint smile of nostalgia appeared on Liu Shengrui’s face. “I know—what you chefs consider such flavors might be nothing special. But to us, it’s delicious.”

Qian Jianing nodded and took the menu from the table. “If that’s the case, I’ll try my best to recreate the taste you’re looking for.”

Hearing this, Liu Shengrui’s face lit up with emotion. “Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”

Qian Jianing returned to the kitchen, clipped the menu above the prep station, and began preparing dinner.

To prevent customers from waiting too long, she followed her usual routine of sending out the cold dishes and marinated items first, then cooking each table’s dishes in turn. Soon, Table 9’s order was sent out, and Qian Jianing’s attention shifted to the order for Table 10. The first dish was Yunnan-style *Hong San Duo*.

This dish is typically tangy and appetizing, but according to the requested flavor profile on the menu, the saltiness should stand out more than the sourness. Fortunately, the guests at this table were worried that Qian Jianing might not be able to replicate the flavor they desired, so they’d written copious notes on the paper menu, even detailing the dish’s appearance.

Qian Jianing closed her eyes and mentally reconstructed the flavor they wanted. After going over it in her head, she opened her eyes, turned around, and brought the prepped chili peppers, pork, and tomatoes to the cutting board.

“Hello, here’s your *Hong San Duo*,” Qian Jianing said as she set the dish on the table. Because it looked rather plain, even somewhat unappetizing, she didn’t dare leave right away. She wasn’t sure if the flavor she recreated was the one the customer truly wanted.

Liu Shengrui stared at the *Hong San Duo* on the table in a daze. The minced meat was roughly chopped, the chili peppers were unevenly cut, and he could even see tomato peels in the dish. It looked quite unattractive, but every detail was exactly as he remembered—it was as if it had come from the hands of one particular person.

“Come on, let’s have a taste first.” A woman in her fifties couldn’t contain herself and scooped up a spoonful. The moment she put it in her mouth and started chewing, tears sprang from her eyes. Seeing her reaction, everyone else at the table couldn’t wait to try it—and soon, the entire table was crying together.

Qian Jianing stood awkwardly at the side, watching them. After all her time cooking, this was the first time she had made people cry.